Knight of Humanity (High School DxD/FGO - Mash Kyrielight SI Chapter 2)

In all my life, I never expected to find myself in this situation.

"And so, I enrolled Asia-chan into Kuoh Academy, as a student!" Shouted Serafall L-Levithan.

To be in a room with t-two Satan. Lord protect me!

"Onee-sama, you can't just make decisions like that all of a sudden." Sona Siri, the Satan's younger sister protested.

"I totally could! I even forged the papers for Mash-chan to be a teacher." Serafall cheerfully showed off the papers to the people present in the Kuoh Academy Student Council room.

"Onee-sama!" Sona shouted, losing the composer she introduced herself with. Her Peerage members were in silently standing in the side of the room. Ah, no, they were quietly talking among themselves.

"Onii-sama, can't you please do something." Issei's King, Rias Gremory spoke to her brother, the L-L-Lucifer.

"The two Maous really aren't like how I expected." Issei commented, standing to the side with his arms crossed.

"Tell me about it. I don't think I'm ever seen Sona-kaichou acting like that before." Saji, Sona's Pawn, said from next to Issei.

Rias's Peerage seems more at ease with the two Demon Lords in their presence.

Sister Mash's hand rest on my shoulder, making me look to the side, and see her calming smile. I felt a bit more at ease, with my b-big sister besides me. Mash said she's going to adopt me. I still smile at the memory, unable to contain the joy in my heart.

Also it's good I calmed down. I don't think everyone present, will would appreciate me making the sign of the cross again.

"I don't think Serafall can be stopped when she gets like this." Sirzechs Lucifer said with a kind smile. "Besides, in this instance, I think she has the right idea." The Satan looked toward us, toward Big Sister Mash specifically. I hated how I'm glad that he wasn't focused on me. "It would offer you both, Miss Mash and Asia Kyrielight a safe haven, while we track down the renegade Fallen Angel, Raynare. As thanks for aiding my sister as you did." He nodded toward Mash.

I felt my face heat up, as the Satan said my new last name.

Yet, his words also brought unpleasant memories that filled me with guilt.

Raynare managed to escape. It seemed like the Stray Exorcist Freed had found her, and helped her escape. Or rather watched Mash's arrival, watched the fight in hiding, and chose specifically to aid Raynare escape. I couldn't understand why.

I asked Mash if Freed had a grudge against her, but she said she never met him before.

I didn't understand why Freed Sellzen did what he did, but I understood the consequences of it.

Big Sister Mash is now weaken, chained down by constantly sharing half her life force with me, as Serafall explained it. Mash was holding up half of my soul up so I could live. Also she can't leave my side. Usually I would be happy with this, but this time, it's literal.

At most we can be far apart by two to three miles, but any further, and we both experience that soul filled pain of death.

The heavy feeling in my heart returned at my uselessness. I am a literal chain on my Big Sister's life, pulling her down, and I can't do anything about it.

Because I selfishly want to live.

Big Sister held my hand in a comfortable grip. I looked toward her to see, a small shake of her head, and a smile on her face. A feeling of love and care filled my heart from our bond.

Ah, that's right. A side effect of the life bond Big Sister shared with me, is that we can sort of feel what the other is feeling. The guilty feeling returned that I felt joy at our bond, but I couldn't help smiling and being happy.

"Ne, ne, Mash-chan, whadda think? Am I not the best Magical Girl ally or not? No more cheap motels for Magical Knight-chan, am I right?" Lady Serafall bounced in front of us, before hugging Big Sister.

I looked toward Mash for her response, but the smile fell from my face, as I felt the emotions from our bonds. While outwardly Mash still had her polite smile, the emotion that echoed to me were...

Resentment. Guilt due to that resentment. Her eyes seemed hazy and unfocused, like she was thinking of an unpleasant memory for a moment, then it was gone.

It wasn't fully what Mash was feeling, but it seemed to shimmer in the background, so heavily that it corrupted whatever gratitude she felt.

"Nice," Mash's sarcastic response threw the jovial mood off. "Using my little sister to imprison me here, while your sisters being the wardens."

"Wh-Wh-What!?" Serafall jumped away in shock at Big Sister's response.

And just like that tension filled the room again.

"T-That's not what Onii-sama is saying at all." Rias splutter out, shocked at Mash's response.

"Mash-san, in no way are you a prisoner here. And I'm sorry for how my sister acted, but I'm sure she had a good reason for it." Sona continued from Rias.

Seeing how their bosses acted, the Peerages stayed silent.

Except for Issei.

"Hey, Onee-sama, I know they are Devils, I swear Rias and everyone in the Occult Research Club are good people. They treated me really well since I reincarnated. No matter what I swear we would protect Asia and make sure no harm comes to her. I swear everyday for here in Kuoh will be a happy one." Issei spoke valiantly and passionately. I couldn't help but smile at his words, and even the other devils seemed glad for it. "As for the Student Council...I didn't know they were devils, but they are pretty heavy on throwing detentions, so they're probably shady."

The Student Council looked at Issei with varying degrees of amusements or annoyances.

I felt glad for Issei's intervention because above all, it recolor Big Sister Mash's emotions, to be more amused and entertained as well.

"Oi, I don't wanna hear that from one of the Perverted Trio!" Saji objected. "Besides," he turned to look at Mash. "You're being given a visit and a reward by two of the Maous, can't you notice your surroundings a bit?"

"Saji," Sona said firmly.

"Saji-chan," Serafall spoke with fake cheer.

"Eh, yes?"

""Zip it."" The two devil sister spoke with unexpected synchronized tone, that the Sitri Pawn couldn't help but flinch and go quiet like a scolded puppy.

"Ha, Sona-chan, we were on the same wavelength, right now! Kyyaaaaa~" Serafall jump accross the room and hugged her sister.

"Urgh," Sona tried and fall to be unaffected, but couldn't help her grimce and looking away, hoping to ignore how she acted moments before.

"Big sister," I held Mash's hand hoping that she'll feel better and tell me what was bother her, that she would be resentful to our saviors that much.

I understood that logically Mash as an exorcist would hate devils, but Big Sister never seem...to hate anything. At most when she talked about her missions, back when I was still part of the church, she would speak about her actions as necessary, and that protecting people was more important, rather than fighting against evil.

Actually, I don't think she ever called Devils evil either.

What changed in the three years since I last saw her?

Big Sister Mash looked at me, then took a deep breath and let it out. Her feels echoing in the bond were more calm now, like a pond slowly lessening the ripples in it.

"You're adorable." Mash told Issei.

"W-w-what?" Issei jumped back his face red.

Why is Big Sister saying that to Issei? D-Does she...l-l-like him? Not that, that's bad. Big Sister and Issei geting along would be good.

In fact, really good. We would get to spend more time together.

"Naively adorable." Mash continued, and Issei held his chest as if he took a blow. "But I suppose you do have a point.

"Asia having a stable home and an education would be a good thing." She let go of my hand to pat my head, while smiling at me. I couldn't help but lean into her action. "However," she turn to the devils with colder eyes. "In no way will I accept you recruiting her into your Peerages, either of you." She looked toward Rias and Sona who flinched at Mash's gaze. "Or either of you two for good measure." While the Satan's sisters were surprised by Mash's bluntness, the actual Satans seemed understanding and amused if anything else. "I do have a reason for this, rather than just being against the Evil Piece system." I was surprised at Big Sister's words, and listened intensely. "First:

"Until the the situation with the Twilight Healing Sacred Gear is resolved, trying to recruit Asia would likely be like trying to recruit both of us, given how ours souls are linked right now." As that both Rias and Sona stood straighter, seeing the prospect as something positive, than a negative. "I do not wish to be turned into a Devil, period."

"Miss Kyrielight-" Rias began only to be cut off.

"I have many reasons, but I will keep it short. I have considered all the advantages being a Devil can bring, and I reject them. I will die of old age at a hundred, or however far technology and progress ends up pushing a human's lifespan." Big Sister's eyes unlike before, had an intensity, that caused the two Devil Kings, to take a step back, before stopping themselves. "I. Do not. Want to be a devil... or any other species for that matter." Mash closed her eyes, letting out a breath, then continued. "Others can make their own choice about becoming a Devil, but I have made mine. I will live as a Human, and die as a Human. End of story."

From the looks on everyone's face, they all understood this wasn't a topic for debate.

"Asia however,"

"Eh?" I looked at Big Sister in surprise to see her giving me a small nod, and accepting smile, before patting my head again. I felt happy from the pat.

"If she wishes to join either of your Peerages, then you can ask her after she finishes her education." Mash had a sly smile as she continued. "And I do mean the full three years of High School. No giving her a diploma after the Twilight Healing thing is over, and saying you can recruit her then."

"Of course not!" Sona said firmly, she sounded offended. "As a Student of Kuoh Academy," I could hear the capitalization. "She is meant to have the full education experience of this institute, and that obviously means going through all three years. No skipping!"

"Kyaaa~ Sona-chan, so cool!" Serafall shouted in the background, waving a tiny flag with Sona's face on it, that she got it from...somewhere.

"Err, yeah. I agree too." Rias said. Why didn't that sound as convincing?

"Miss Mash," Sirzechs spoke. "I assure you, young Asia will not be pushed into anything, and we are doing everything we can find and eliminate the Rogue Fallen, and fix your current situation. This arrangement wasn't meant to trap you, or blackmail you, but was our attempt at expressing our gratitude toward you, for your actions in the Underworld that helped Devilkind."

"Eh?" Issei along with several other Devils, as well as I, seemed at loss at what the Lucifer was referring to.

"That's right!" The Leviathan spoke. "I talked with Azazel-chan and he's totally all over this problem. He's in completely Serious Mode on it."

"Umm, 'helped Devilkind'?" I asked, feeling confused. Big Sister hates Devils-No, after what she said...Dislikes? No. She...tolerates them? Is this what's called being passive-aggressive? Either whatever is in the middle of dislike and apathy. Maybe leaning more toward dislike?

Either way, hearing from the Satans that Big Sister helped the Underworld...it doesn't make sense.

"Ah, I suppose you wouldn't have heard of it." Sirzechs Lucifer spoke toward me. "Three years ago, Mash Kyrielight, singlehandedly, invaded the Original Lucifer's castle in Hell, deep in the heart of the Old Satan Faction's territory...and annihilated it."

"Three years ago?" It was the same time I healed that devil, and was excommunicated. That's why big sister wasn't there-

I felt a sense of vertigo.

"W-Wait! Invaded Hell? Singlehandedly? Was she actually that kind of badass all along? What, did she do it with a shotgun!?" Issei asked, in disbelief at what he heard.

"'Singlehandedly'? Wasn't it an operation by the Church?" asked Rias, blinking in confusion, and looking at Mash more warily.

"That was the official explanation that we gave, and the Angels endorsed as to not increases political tension between the Three Factions. Since Miss Mash's attack was against the Old Satan Factions, it was seen as just the Church being...proactive in peacekeeping."

Before the giant domineering black stoned castle, stood Mash Kyrielight with two Holy Swords in hand, and her Round Shield on her back.

Holding Excalibur Destruction in one hand and Excalibur Blessing in the other, she charged alone at the foreboding gate.

I stumbled. I felt myself almost fall.

What was that?

It felt like... Now I noticed it. The sheer emotions Big Sister had were too much, they pass through our bond overwhelmingly, and with that heavy emotion came the images, memories.

"Wait. Excuse me, Maou Lucifer, but what did you mean 'Old Satan Faction'?" Issei continued.

"Issei, remember how I told you that after the Great War, the Devils had a civil war that resulted in the need for the creation of the Evil Pieces. The Old Satan Factions were those on the losing side. Some of them are still alive, in places far deep in Hell for most people to reach." Rias explained. "Fighting them would just reignite the civil war again, so we leave them alone, as they do nothing, and can do nothing. They have mostly lost all power now, and will eventually fade away into history."

"That's right, and Mash-chan took out the biggest of them, so if there were any winds in their sails, now it's definitely dead." Serafall said.

"'Biggest'?" Saji asked.

"That would be Rizevim Livan Lucifer," Sona answered, considering it was her Pawn that asked. "Son of the Original Lucifer." She said pushing her glasses up her nose, making them shine, and oddly make her statement that more important.

Wait, killed the Original Lucifer's son?

I looked back toward Big Sister in awe, but mostly I couldn't help but worry for her.

The emotions I was beginning to feel from her weren't happy.

The feelings rushed through to envelope me.

Dismissal. Annoyance. Anger. Redirected rage.

A tall dark silver haired man, with a chin bread stood before Mash, in a castle area littered with hundred of dead devils.

Words were exhanged. The man's lazy and unintereted eyes, changed to curiosity as he raised an eyebrow at Mash.

The Devil then smiled and moved aside, mockingly gesturing for the Knight to walk pass him toward a secret underground entrance.

The scene changed to show Mash looking at something, shouting at something behind me with her teeth gritted in frustration. I couldn't see what it was, because I was looking at Mash's down casted face, and behind her Rizevim was holding his head back and laughing. Mocking Big Sister for...something. Something...taken? Stolen?

I didn't understand, but his words struck at Mash's heart. She turned and dashed toward him, her Holy Swords raised and shining. The Devil released his power in response, grinning and laughing at the Knight.

"Hey," Big Sister caught me.

"Huh?" I blinked before realizing I was held in Mash's arms. I was held because I was falling.

"I think you should lay down, Asia." Big Sister said as she placed me on a nearby chair.

"Asia, are you okay?" Issei was instantly by my side. Everyone else was looking at me in concern.

"Sirzech, Serafall, is there anything urgent you need to discuss with me right now." Mash asked.

"No, we simply came to talk, and offer as much help as you want. If anything comes up, we can just discuss it later." Sirzechs offered.

"That's right, I'll save our numbers on your phone. Call us, whenever you want. In fact, come visit me at the Shirabara Studios. I really want you for an episode on Levia-tan." Serafall offered.

"Declined. I have very bad stage fright." Big Sister said in a deadpan manner.

Huh, given her emotions, she actually telling the truth.

"Awww," Serafall pouted, and I wanted to headpat her to cheer her up.

"If nothing else, I want to take Asia home. Even if her soul is, in a sense, patched up, she still needs her rest."

"Waaah!" Big Sister Mash, grabbed me and pulled me up in her arms. It felt...nice. Like I was a princess. Hehe.

"I'll walk with you. I wanna make sure Asia is okay." Issei offered.

"...Sure." Mash bit the side of her mouth, looking at Issei scrutinizingly. "I'm telling you now, I'm warding the place. So I better not find you fried on my lawn from attempting a late night visit."

"I-I-I would never!" Issei protested.

"Huh, why is a late night visit bad?" I asked.

Why is everyone looking at me with pity or as if they know something I don't?